Turning

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Chapter 816

Ignoring the clamoring Kiolle, Yuder escaped the confessional and swiftly returned to his original place. His agile movements, weaving through the milling crowd, went unnoticed by all.

"Did you have a good talk?" inquired Kishiar, the exception to the oblivious.

"Yes."

"You took longer than expected... perhaps you stumbled upon an interesting topic?"

"A person who should be in the Bright Palace is currently outside of it," Yuder replied, delivering the crux of the matter in a voice only Kishiar could hear. Despite the shocking news, Kishiar, ever the seasoned actor, displayed an unshaken smile.

"Really? Did he sneak out on a whim to visit the south?"

"Similar. He fled to save a sage, hiding in a carriage."

"Yes. Duke Diarca is still unaware, and Kiolle has asked for help."

"Must've been hard for him to ask, given his pride. He must trust my assistant a great deal."

Instead of dismissing Kishiar's absurd jest, Yuder straightforwardly corrected him.

"Kiolle is being threatened by Katchian because of a strange misunderstanding. He seemed quite desperate."

"A strange misunderstanding? I'm curious."

"You might be better off not knowing."

"That kind of statement only makes me more curious," Kishiar mused, a response Yuder had anticipated. Taking a deep breath, Yuder continued.

"Then I'll tell you. The prince is under the misconception that Kiolle is a homosexual. He's been blackmailing him about informing his family, which is how he managed to follow him here."

Yuder expected Kishiar to laugh, but his reaction was only half right. The beautiful man, clad in black ceremonial attire, maintained his picturesque smile, but his eyes told a different story.

"Hmm. That's a rather intricate misunderstanding."

Silence followed.

"Did the rumor about Kiolle da Diarca getting entangled with an unknown young man after the Harvest Festival influence this?"

Kishiar had mentioned that rumor before. Yuder hadn't expected him to remember such a baseless tale. Slightly surprised, he nodded.

"Well, yes. But the direct cause of the misunderstanding might have been the party after the mission in the west, where he briefly left the party to meet with me..."

Yuder admitted to himself that he might have inadvertently contributed to the misunderstanding about Kiolle.

"But it's a simple misunderstanding that Kiolle should have cleared up easily. His failure to do so probably means he's just a fool."

"Indeed, that's likely. So, does Katchian have any guesses about who Kiolle's partner might be?"

"No, he doesn't seem to have gone that far."

If Prince Katchian had been more determined to find out who Kiolle's partner was, he might have realized sooner that it was all a misunderstanding. His lack of will was another reason for Kiolle's distress.

"It would be best to clear up this misunderstanding quickly."

"I agree."

After conveying to Kishiar that Kiolle had resolved to leave the Herne House within a week, Yuder fell silent. His silence wasn't for any particular reason other than the increasing commotion around them as Kiolle had just returned to his original spot.

Kiolle, who had been the center of their conversation moments ago, sat down, panting as if he had run hurriedly. Yuder easily guessed the reason.

'He must have struggled immensely to avoid being spotted by others and return here no later than Duke Herne.'

For Yuder, moving unnoticed was as easy as breathing, but for Kiolle, with his lesser skills, avoiding the gazes of others during his escape from the confessional and return must have been quite a challenge.

The southern nobles whispered seriously among themselves upon seeing Kiolle's distressed appearance. Yuder subtly amplified their voices to his ears using his wind powers. The whispers revealed their thoughts.

"He entered later than everyone else but managed not to be later than Duke Herne. Choosing such a precise moment must have been difficult..."

"He's not to be underestimated, that's for sure."

"Duke Diarca opposes Duke Peletta and the Cavalry, who follows the Emperor. He also doesn't seem to want to give up control to Herne."

"According to the signals sent by the servants, nobody saw where Diarca went or when he came back. They say his swordsmanship is unremarkable, but maybe even that's a deception..."

Yuder retracted his wind powers after hearing this much.

'It's fortunate that he's not under suspicion despite being away for so long... but this is getting absurd.'

Was nobody noticing Kiolle, who was trying to appear dignified while wiping sweat from his forehead, or was it just invisible to their eyes?

Yuder's estimation of the southern nobles plummeted even below that of Kiolle.

Simultaneously, a grand announcement of Duke Herne's arrival echoed throughout the chapel. All attendees fell silent as precise footsteps approached from the nearest small entrance.

'Finally, I get to see Duke Herne in person.'

Yuder sharpened his focus, determined not to miss a thing.

After a moment, Duke Herne finally made his appearance.

He looked surprisingly young. Compared to Duke Diarca, whose beard had turned white, and even to Duke Apeto and Duke Tain who appeared relatively young but still like middle-aged men with grown children, Duke Herne looked distinctly younger. His nearly silver, long platinum-blond hair was elegantly gathered and draped over one shoulder, and he held a diamond-studded black cane. At most, he looked like he had just entered his forties.

It was hard to associate this elegant, slenderly handsome man with the rake that Myra detested. Even Yuder, well aware that appearances can be deceiving, felt this way, let alone others.

Rumors had it that he had been staying in the south for health reasons, but nothing about him seemed particularly unwell.

'He is quite thin and uses a cane, so maybe, like Myra, it's just a natural weakness in vitality...'

Duke Herne didn't enter alone. His opposite arm from the one holding the cane was lightly supported by Myra. The father and daughter, with their strikingly similar platinum hair and clear grey eyes, looked like a beautifully sad and elegant family at a glance.

However, the pleasing sight only lasted so long. As Duke Herne and Myra left the entrance, a procession of about ten women followed in their wake.

Given they were coming together, it was clear these women were either family or closely associated with the family to warrant attendance at such an occasion. Yet, most of them appeared not much older than Myra. Among them, only one bore the mark of direct kinship. She alone, amidst others who seemed not to grieve, veiled her face and wept endlessly, her handkerchief drenched.

"Oh, my son... poor Ashrav!"

The fact that she was the only one crying confirmed she was the mother of Ashrav, the second son who had passed away.

'Indeed.'

Despite appearances to the contrary, Duke Herne was indeed the womanizer Myra had described. The scene was bizarre.

The women, dressed in mourning but showing no signs of sorrow, each held a handkerchief. The crowd waited a considerable time for all of them to enter. Only then did a solemn-faced priest emerge to commence the funeral service.

Candles were lit amongst the flowers adorning the vicinity of the coffin. The somber music of sacred instruments filled and then quieted the reverent space. The sound of sleet hitting the windows outside added a melancholic resonance to the atmosphere.

"Today, we stand here facing a deeply saddening departure. Ashrav El Herne, the Second Prince, was a bright young man with exceptional talents, destined to be a blessing to all. Yet, the divine called him to its embrace far too soon..."

It was at that moment that Yuder noticed something peculiar. The shadow cast over the coffin flickered unnaturally.

'...Gakane?'

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Read up to the latest chapter (1267) and more than 1000 chapters of BL novels here

[BL] Cloudless Sky

Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.

"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."

In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.

"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."

And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.

"For now, until then, let's sleep..."

As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.

'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'

[BL] Bermuda

Leonardo Blaine, the true war hero of the Raina Logia Empire and the commander of the Armsilver 11th Squad, is dishonorably discharged for disobeying orders during the final battle that could have led the Empire to victory in the territorial war. People criticize and point fingers at him, and after being released on parole from prison, he disappears without a trace.

Three years later, his name has been forgotten by the world. The Council has been persistently pursuing him, but he has proven difficult to capture. Frustrated by this, Hugo Agrizendro, the commander of the Council's army, decides to personally apprehend him.

"Since when have you been watching me?"

Leonardo was calculative and astute, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had been observing Hugo for some time now. However, Leonardo's answer was something that even Hugo had not anticipated.

"From the very beginning."

[BL] The Mist (Same author as Turning)

In the autumn of his 18th year, after winning the high school kendo championship finals, an unexpected accident occurred.

Due to that incident, Kang Mu-heon lost one of his legs, his closest friend, and his promising future. He closed off his heart and shut himself away alone.

A few years later, the world's first real virtual reality game <THE MIST> was announced, where even those with physical disabilities could play in healthy bodies.

By chance, Kang Mu-heon encountered it and began a new life as the mage Kapros, facing unexpected meetings, reunions, and days of change....

***

"Why was someone like you born into this world to make me so miserable? Do you understand when I say it like this?! You were born with talent for the sword, a bright personality, everything - you must have been laughing at me always lagging behind! Did you even know how pathetic I felt because of your stupid hypocrisy? A genius? What does any of that matter!"

Seung-jo's cries stabbed at his heart, wailing as if he were crying even though he wasn't, but there was no time to think further. He quickly clutched my stomach, got up, and ran towards him.

He looked surprised for a moment, but he was desperate.

Just as the car was about to reach us, he shoved Seung-jo hard. Right after Seung-jo fell and rolled away with wide, startled eyes—

Screech!

Bang! With an impact that felt like his whole body was being shattered, he flew through the air.

And in that brief yet long moment of floating in space, he remembered his reflection in Seung-jo's eyes for the last time.......

***

[ Then in THE MIST, may you become the master of infinite possibilities. ]

Whoosh!

When his vision returned after everything went white, he was standing in the middle of a bustling town. Amidst the clamor, countless people were busily going about their business here and there.

He looked down at himself, standing dazed and wearing clothes of unknown origin. When he touched the sleeve, he felt the texture of fabric as real as reality. His hair felt the same, and even when he touched the wall of a nearby house, he could clearly feel the solid, cold surface.

Is this... VT?

It seemed like a joke. It truly felt as if he had come to another world and was touching everything.

As he stood there unable to think due to the shock, he suddenly remembered the biggest reason he had decided to play this game, and snapped back to attention. His two legs were still as they had been when he first stood.

'Can I really walk?'

He first stepped out with his left foot, then very slowly put strength into his heavy right foot. It felt like cold sweat was running down his spine.

And then,

He lifted it,

Moved it,

And took another step to touch the ground again.

So easily. As if there had never been any problem with this leg from the beginning.

"Ah..."

At that moment, something that was neither joy nor emotion shot up his spine. Suddenly feeling a lump in his throat, he lowered his head and leaned against the wall. His right foot, bearing his weight, was doing its job perfectly.

"..."

Holding back the tightness in his throat, he took another step.

It didn't hurt. It wasn't heavy. His leg was no longer a useless piece of wood that ached.

Damn it, to be able to walk so easily like this.

To be able to run so easily like this.

He had wished even in his dreams for the day to come when he could walk and run like this again.

And so he walked again, kept walking, slowly getting faster, until finally he started running like a madman through the entire town.

***

"Kap. ...There seems to be a misunderstanding. That's not what I meant."

Just as he was thinking he should throw a punch, Yu-wan sighed with a troubled look and said.

A misunderstanding? How could it be a misunderstanding when he said with his own mouth that he didn't think of me as a friend?

"I didn't expect to receive such a question suddenly, so my explanation was probably too brief. Let me rephrase."

Yu-wan reached out his hand, his face completely changed from before - intense yet resolute - as he stared at him. As he didn't reject the hand suddenly approaching his face and kept his gaze fixed, his cool large hand touched his cheek completely.

A shiver ran down his spine at that moment.

"I'm sorry to say this to you, but I don't see you only as a friend. ...This is the complete answer."

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[BL] Cloudless Sky

Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.

"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."

In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.

"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."

And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.

"For now, until then, let's sleep..."

As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.

'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'